How did the Maya become associated with the ball games pok-ta-pok? - Presentation

The ancient Maya civilisation is renowned for many things, and among their cultural contributions is the ball game known as "pok-ta-pok". This game, which has been pieced together by historians through the discovery of ball courts, was a popular sport during the height of the Maya civilisation. The courts were 'I' shaped with hoops on either side, and the game was played with a hefty rubber ball, weighing around 6 pounds, which players aimed to bounce through these hoops. To gain a deeper understanding of how the game was played, various internet resources and photographs can be utilised, alongside watching reconstructions of the game to aid pupils in creating their own version of pok-ta-pok.

Considered one of the earliest known team sports, the Mayan ball game required players to use their arms, legs, feet, and hips, but not their hands, to manoeuvre the ball. Due to the heavy and hard nature of the rubber ball, players donned protective padding on their arms, elbows, wrists, and hips, as well as helmets which could include ceremonial headdresses worn before or after the game. The game held significant cultural importance, symbolising the battle between light and darkness, and was intertwined with the Maya's spiritual beliefs about the underworld, known as Xibalba. This rich history is not only learned through text but also brought to life by watching videos of modern-day games played according to ancient pok-ta-pok rules.